Full Comment's World in 60 Seconds: Canada saves the Internet

Full Comment's World in 60 Seconds: Canada saves the Internet

Canada refuses to sign a document worked out at a meeting of the UN telecommunications organization in Dubai. A group including China, Russia, Gulf Arab states, African nations and others wanted to impose UN jurisdiction on the internet, including on firms like Google. The effect of that would be to internationalize the restrictive policies, snooping and government control that is typical in those countries. This is a battle the West has to keep up at all costs.

Get a job. We’ll help
The Conservatives say new Employment Insurance — which should still be called unemployment insurance — rules will take effect on Jan. 6. The rules vary according to the situation, but may require UI recipients to drive up to an hour to a job, and accept positions that pay 80%-90% of their previous wage. They’ll have to make a “reasonable” job search, including looking for opportunities, preparing a resume, registering for job banks, attending job fairs, applying for jobs, and undergoing competency evaluations. In return, says Diane Finley, “They’re going to see a lot more in the way of support in helping them finding a new job. They’re going to receiving more job alerts, and they’re going to have access to supports in that regard. I think that’s a huge improvement than what’s in the past.” I’d say the first part is justified as long as the second part is provided.

Who you calling a terrorist?Are Canada’s laws on terrorism too broad? The Supreme Court is set to decide. While each case differs in its specifics, the appeals all dispute Canada’s legal description of what constitutes terrorism. A common target is the “motive clause” of the law, which defines terrorist activity as a crime committed to advance a “political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause.”

Hey, let’s sell the sewers too!
Here’s leftwing economics for you: Adam Vaughan thinks Toronto should sell the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Expressway to a private buyer in return for the right to charge tolls. Yeah, let’s put traffic flow entirely in the hands of some company that can set tolls wherever it wants. Vaughan thinks the city would get $4 billion. Why would anyone pay $4 billion for a crumbling elevated highway road that the city has been told might not last another six years? And if no one was willing to help Rob Ford build subways, why would they want the Gardiner?

Or better yet — sell the Gardiner to Montreal Equally unimaginable: a committee examining the future of Montreal’s Olympic stadium suggests putting on a new retractable room. Fine, just pay for it yourselves this time.

Second worst: Osama bin Laden
Jon Stewart says Hugh Grant is the worst guest he’s ever had on the Daily Show. “Stewart made the revelation while being interviewed by Stephen Colbert in Montclair, New Jersey last week and Stewart was quick to answer when asked to name his least favorite guest. Stewart explained, “He’s giving everyone shit the whole time, and he’s a big pain in the ass.” The talk show host added that he would “never” have Grant back “

Look, they didn’t do it on purpose
The two Australian hoaxers have now moved to safe houses following the revelation that the nurse hanged herself. Yes, it was a stupid prank, and everyone but morons hates prank radio, but it’s not like they invented it. There’s no way they could have anticipated the result. Are they supposed to be hunted down and lynched?

NATO in Turkey
Is this the start of something bigger? The U.S. will send two batteries of Patriot missiles and 400 troops to Turkey. The troops will operate the batteries against Syria and are part of a NATO force. So if the Syrians fire into Turkey and the Patriots respond, is it officially war?

Big M retires
Big Frank Mahovlich is retiring from the Senate. OK, he wasn’t the noisiest senator, ever, but is that bad? Quiet dignity, that’s Frank. We could use more of it.